yall i almost cried! i finally heard the released of4s and now i wish i hadnt, wat was he thinking?!?!

man if u aint wanna release the original u then it shoulda just stayed in the vault because this is just wronggggg

the unreleased version is 100 times better

There's an unreleased version?

Haha, there's so much more I need to learn....and hear!

loisclark88 said:

. Hell yes there is. And it kicks major ass. One of my fav Prince cuts. Period.

Personally, I don't see the big difference between the two. The first version was too personal... for those who actually know what he's singing about, it just sounds like he got his feelings hurt. To the average listener who doesn't know the history, I can imagine that it would sound like unfocused rambling. I think the released version was the smarter move.

BSK3601 said:

Bullshit. As if the released version wasn't unfocused rambling? Even worse, the released version is a cop out with unintelligible lyrics.

I agree with Moonwalkbjrain, he should have just kept it locked up.

I like both versions. I'm glad it was released but I'd love for the original to be released as well. I've never heard a quality version of it.

BSK3601 said:

You don't see the big difference even though the lyrics are completely different, and there is none of Clare Fischer's orchestral musings on it?

Well, alrighty then.

i just like listening to the strings

Stinky said:

Ummmm.... one of the 1985 versions has the same Clare Fisher arrangement just like the released version. The '91 version has horns... maybe that's what you meant. Like I said, in my opinion I think the released version would make more sense to a virgin listener. I think some folks hold on to the notion that because it references things that were happening in his personal life at the time, then that makes it extra special. I'm not gonna make a mountain of a molehill about it.

BSK3601 said:

thats why the first ones diff (and better) tho cuz it is more personal. and when i first heard it i didnt know who he was talkin about but i could feel his pain, the released one doesnt have half the emotion the original does

TheBigBang said:

exactly

BSK3601 said:

I can understand why he wouldn't want to release the original version... not wanting to open old wounds and all.

BUT, the original version blows the one on "The Vault" album to bits ...Kaaf'nBoom.

BSK3601 said:

yeah, one of the 1985 versions has the same arrangement. One doesn't. So obviously that's what I meant.

Horses for courses, i guess. If you like the Vault version then good luck to you. Personally I think the lyrics in the Vault version are absolutely terrible. But more importantly, I think the arrangment is overblown. Sans strings, sans horns - it just sounds way better that way IMO.